Yeah, I get tired too.
Every once in a while. work just gets on my nerves and I feel like everything just keeps going wrong and things are beyond my control.
And if you still haven't noticed by now, things that I can't control, tend to upset me.
Yeah, I'm upset.
The only thing that keeps me going now is that I know I've been through worse, and I know it will get better soon.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Two is Better than One: Dual Sim Love
Since I started working in HP, dual-sim phones have become indispensable. My first dual sim was a Myphone Q22. It was cheap, at aeound P3,500. To be honest, I wasn't expecting too much from it, but that phone actually passed the two year mark and was still functioning pretty well when I decided to replace it with an LG P698, dual-sim Android phone.
Big mistake.
Not only was battery life dismal (well standard for a smartphone), but touchscreen was quite laggy at times and worst of all, there were times battery drained from 50% to 0% on standby! I guess some of these could be minor caveats for those who don't necessarily have to be available all the time, because the phone functioned well most cases, but it was not acceptable to someone like me, who was on call, and have this weird need to being "always on".
I missed my MyPhone. It was basic, it was no-frills, but it was reliable. And it would take days before I needed to charge it.
So, I started looking for a replacement, this time I knew what I wanted. Nothing fancy, something functional, and with a strong battery life. I considered getting another MyPhone, but I also checked out other "branded" phones who were now offering dual sim models and I found the Nokia Asha 200.
I love the way this phone looks, mine's white, it's made of plastic but feels durable, and it's very light. So far, I'm still getting used to it, because I haven't owned a Nokia in over a decade, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.
Initial thoughts, it's pretty good, it does what its supposed to. The things I don't like too much about it, would be it takes too many clicks to send something, and the headset is just plain awful, and I mean awful. I replaced mine with my regular earphones and sound quality is decidedly better. But these little things are just minor negatives, especially since the phone can be bought at just P3,250 and maybe cheaper in other stores as of time of writing. Anyway, I have the rest of the week to test it out, but so far, I'm liking it. It's not perfect, but it's pretty good.
Big mistake.
Not only was battery life dismal (well standard for a smartphone), but touchscreen was quite laggy at times and worst of all, there were times battery drained from 50% to 0% on standby! I guess some of these could be minor caveats for those who don't necessarily have to be available all the time, because the phone functioned well most cases, but it was not acceptable to someone like me, who was on call, and have this weird need to being "always on".
I missed my MyPhone. It was basic, it was no-frills, but it was reliable. And it would take days before I needed to charge it.
So, I started looking for a replacement, this time I knew what I wanted. Nothing fancy, something functional, and with a strong battery life. I considered getting another MyPhone, but I also checked out other "branded" phones who were now offering dual sim models and I found the Nokia Asha 200.
I love the way this phone looks, mine's white, it's made of plastic but feels durable, and it's very light. So far, I'm still getting used to it, because I haven't owned a Nokia in over a decade, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.
Initial thoughts, it's pretty good, it does what its supposed to. The things I don't like too much about it, would be it takes too many clicks to send something, and the headset is just plain awful, and I mean awful. I replaced mine with my regular earphones and sound quality is decidedly better. But these little things are just minor negatives, especially since the phone can be bought at just P3,250 and maybe cheaper in other stores as of time of writing. Anyway, I have the rest of the week to test it out, but so far, I'm liking it. It's not perfect, but it's pretty good.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Trip Planning Mayhem!
I'm not even going to give any excuses about the missing posts that I promised I would complete. I'll do it one of these days, but I figured if I stopped blogging just because I haven't "filled up" the rest of the entries, then that could be a very long wait.
Soooo...I decided to just go ahead and write stuff. It's the
2nd 3rd (as it is already past midnight) day of a 4-day weekend, and I am taking a break from planning the biggest trip of my life to date. This fall, my sister and I are taking on Rome and the U.K. and I am once again in charge of the itinerary.
To be honest, this isn't the most complicated itinerary that I had to plan, but for some reason, I'm having a lot of difficulty in finishing it. I think it's because there's just so much to do and such a limited time to do everything and it's probably also because it's the most expensive trip I've had to plan. With a finite budget, and infinite ways to spend it, I find myself stuck.
But that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying myself.
I love finding great deals and bargains on accommodations, plays, attractions...I love being able to maximize budgets and schedules to make sure everything gets done. There's nothing like seeing a trip fall into place on paper... it's almost like foreplay, knowing that the climax is to come. :)
OK, sexual references aside, let me share some of the tools I use to plan the perfect trip.
1. Google - OK, so this is a bit of a cheat, almost an all-encompassing entity. I know I don't have to explain it, but it had to be said. Google is your friend. Here are a few of the things I usually search:
2. Tripadvisor - I go to Tripadvisor for the reviews, it's a good way to see how other people rate hotels, B&Bs, attractions etc. I also like the forums, I once got a promo code for Megabus for 1$ ticket fares from New York to Philadelphia and New York to Boston.
3. Google Maps - So I can plan the perfect route, or the best grouping of attractions to visit on a day. I'm paartial to trains/MRTs/trams over buses so this site is a lot of help.
4. Booking.com - I only recently used started using Booking.com, previously I would always go directly to the hotel website, but when you're canvassing for multiple cities and just want to get an idea of the rates, this is a good choice. And once you have a hotel in mind, you can cross check with their own website, plus reviews on Tripadvisor.
5. Travel Agency Websites - These are excellent sources of information and sample itineraries. You can then pattern your own trip from the ones being offered. If you're feeling diligent enough, you can even compare the cost of your own itinerary, and feel good about the money you would most likely save by going the DIY route.
So there you have it, my top 5 tools for trip planning. Usually I consolidate all the data into an Excel file, with separate sheets for budget, itinerary, important info, directions... yeah I'm OC like that. But before you think I'm some super control freak, I don't do that for all my trips obviously, but for my upcoming Eurotrip, I'm sure it would be better if I came prepared.
Soooo...I decided to just go ahead and write stuff. It's the
To be honest, this isn't the most complicated itinerary that I had to plan, but for some reason, I'm having a lot of difficulty in finishing it. I think it's because there's just so much to do and such a limited time to do everything and it's probably also because it's the most expensive trip I've had to plan. With a finite budget, and infinite ways to spend it, I find myself stuck.
But that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying myself.
I love finding great deals and bargains on accommodations, plays, attractions...I love being able to maximize budgets and schedules to make sure everything gets done. There's nothing like seeing a trip fall into place on paper... it's almost like foreplay, knowing that the climax is to come. :)
OK, sexual references aside, let me share some of the tools I use to plan the perfect trip.
1. Google - OK, so this is a bit of a cheat, almost an all-encompassing entity. I know I don't have to explain it, but it had to be said. Google is your friend. Here are a few of the things I usually search:
- Places to see/top attractions/things to do
- Accommodations/hotel reviews
- Food/Dishes to try
- Events/plays/musicals
- Promo codes
- Customs/Culture
- Weather
- Currency/daily budgets/sales/merchandise
- ..and so much more!
2. Tripadvisor - I go to Tripadvisor for the reviews, it's a good way to see how other people rate hotels, B&Bs, attractions etc. I also like the forums, I once got a promo code for Megabus for 1$ ticket fares from New York to Philadelphia and New York to Boston.
3. Google Maps - So I can plan the perfect route, or the best grouping of attractions to visit on a day. I'm paartial to trains/MRTs/trams over buses so this site is a lot of help.
4. Booking.com - I only recently used started using Booking.com, previously I would always go directly to the hotel website, but when you're canvassing for multiple cities and just want to get an idea of the rates, this is a good choice. And once you have a hotel in mind, you can cross check with their own website, plus reviews on Tripadvisor.
5. Travel Agency Websites - These are excellent sources of information and sample itineraries. You can then pattern your own trip from the ones being offered. If you're feeling diligent enough, you can even compare the cost of your own itinerary, and feel good about the money you would most likely save by going the DIY route.
So there you have it, my top 5 tools for trip planning. Usually I consolidate all the data into an Excel file, with separate sheets for budget, itinerary, important info, directions... yeah I'm OC like that. But before you think I'm some super control freak, I don't do that for all my trips obviously, but for my upcoming Eurotrip, I'm sure it would be better if I came prepared.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
SEA Odyssey: Sunflower Place Review (Bangkok)
This place is just fantastic! Location is very accessible, near the BTS and MRT stations. However, taxis are affordable so my friends and I usually just take the cab, but make sure they use the meter!
Rooms are very clean, a/c very cool (which is a must in the Bangkok heat), water pressure is good, with elevators, the place is very secure and quiet. There are 2 desktop computers in the lobby, free printing upto 2 pages, Wi-Fi available in the rooms.
Near the Patpomg night market (and other nightlife entertainment spots that we didn't go to), several shopping areas available, food choices abundant, 7-11 just around the corner and also near a big supermarket for all your needs.
The place is cozy, well appointed, clean, secure, safe, quiet. The people at the reception, especially Wiwi are all great, and best of all the rates are affordable! Really an excellent find in Bangkok! You won't regret staying here!
Rooms are very clean, a/c very cool (which is a must in the Bangkok heat), water pressure is good, with elevators, the place is very secure and quiet. There are 2 desktop computers in the lobby, free printing upto 2 pages, Wi-Fi available in the rooms.
Near the Patpomg night market (and other nightlife entertainment spots that we didn't go to), several shopping areas available, food choices abundant, 7-11 just around the corner and also near a big supermarket for all your needs.
The place is cozy, well appointed, clean, secure, safe, quiet. The people at the reception, especially Wiwi are all great, and best of all the rates are affordable! Really an excellent find in Bangkok! You won't regret staying here!
SEA Odyssey: Siem Reap Hostel Review
This place doesn't feel like a hostel, it has its own pool, billiards table, foosball table. The bar/restaurant is a good place to hang out and meet new people. I would suggest getting a private room for $10/person/night for 2 or 3 people/room. Water pressure is excellent. Wi-Fi gets weak on the 3rd floor, blackouts are common in Siem Reap (but not the hostel's fault), it usually lasts around 15 minutes. For 3 days, we only experienced 2 blackouts.
We also had a problem with our a/c (we stayed in room 303), it would act up and sometimes turn off by itself and didn't cool very well. Our friends in 304 had no issues with theirs.
Also, even though the hostel offered tours, we didn't book tours with them. We made plans with our tuk-tuk drivers, Shon and San whom we met at the bus station. I think it's better to make plans directly with the tuk tuk drivers, the possibility of getting ripped off is quite slim. We haggled the price down to $12/ tuktuk (hostel offered $15) to tour Angkor Wat temples, but we still gave the full $15 to our drivers afterwards.It's quite obvious that the people from Siem Reap need all the help they can get from tourists, and the people are so incredibly warm and friendly, so if you can afford it, please feel free to be generous.
Overall a great place to stay in, would recommend to friends.
We also had a problem with our a/c (we stayed in room 303), it would act up and sometimes turn off by itself and didn't cool very well. Our friends in 304 had no issues with theirs.
Also, even though the hostel offered tours, we didn't book tours with them. We made plans with our tuk-tuk drivers, Shon and San whom we met at the bus station. I think it's better to make plans directly with the tuk tuk drivers, the possibility of getting ripped off is quite slim. We haggled the price down to $12/ tuktuk (hostel offered $15) to tour Angkor Wat temples, but we still gave the full $15 to our drivers afterwards.It's quite obvious that the people from Siem Reap need all the help they can get from tourists, and the people are so incredibly warm and friendly, so if you can afford it, please feel free to be generous.
Overall a great place to stay in, would recommend to friends.
SEA Odyssey: Velkommen Guesthouse Review (Phnom Penh)
Phnom Penh was just a part of a 10 day, 5-city SE Asian tour, so we could only spend one night here. We arrived by 3PM, Gavin offered one of the suites with a balcony view, but we opted to still get 2 rooms so we could have 2 bathrooms for our group of 5. Since, we had limited time in Phnom Penh, we didn't want to spend most of it, waiting on each other. :)
Gavin upgraded one of our rooms to a triple, and it was huge! There were 3 double beds but we still had enough room to move around. The a/c was a little weak but there was a fan to compensate for this. Beds were firm and comfortable, rooms were clean and they had their own restaurant/bar (Lazy Lizard) which offered great food, and a very relaxed atmosphere. We had a good time just lounging about and enjoying the $1 draft Angkor beer.
We also arranged our bus tickets to Siem Reap through the hotel, I only wish there were options as to what bus company would be used. We paid $10, but would gladly pay more for more comfortable travel/bus arrangements. The bus we used was unbearably hot, and stopped often. It made the 7 hour trip to Siem Reap more uncomfortable than it needed to be.
Tip: It's cheaper to arrange tours to Russian Market, Tuol-Seng and Killing Fields through he guesthouse ($15). But feel free to make arrangements with other tuk-tuk drivers if you want to explore other areas.
Aside from the clean and spacious rooms, good food, relaxed atmosphere and great location, Gavin and the staff of Velkommen guesthouse provided great service and made me want to stay longer. Would recommend this to anyone visiting Phnom Penh and will hopefully be able to stay here again.
Gavin upgraded one of our rooms to a triple, and it was huge! There were 3 double beds but we still had enough room to move around. The a/c was a little weak but there was a fan to compensate for this. Beds were firm and comfortable, rooms were clean and they had their own restaurant/bar (Lazy Lizard) which offered great food, and a very relaxed atmosphere. We had a good time just lounging about and enjoying the $1 draft Angkor beer.
We also arranged our bus tickets to Siem Reap through the hotel, I only wish there were options as to what bus company would be used. We paid $10, but would gladly pay more for more comfortable travel/bus arrangements. The bus we used was unbearably hot, and stopped often. It made the 7 hour trip to Siem Reap more uncomfortable than it needed to be.
Tip: It's cheaper to arrange tours to Russian Market, Tuol-Seng and Killing Fields through he guesthouse ($15). But feel free to make arrangements with other tuk-tuk drivers if you want to explore other areas.
Aside from the clean and spacious rooms, good food, relaxed atmosphere and great location, Gavin and the staff of Velkommen guesthouse provided great service and made me want to stay longer. Would recommend this to anyone visiting Phnom Penh and will hopefully be able to stay here again.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Loving the Unloved at Anawim
February is the month of love, but it doesn't mean that it's just for couples. My colleagues and I found a way to express our love in a different way, by sponsoring an outreach for the benefit of Anawim Lay Missions Foundation Inc.
Anawim is actually a Hebrew word for "The poor of the Lord" or "God's poor", an apt name for the center that is now the home of over 50 abandoned elderly plus a few orphans and physically and mentally handicapped persons. Founded by Bro. Bo Sanchez, this place is located in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal. In order to pull off this activity, we decided to have a raffle for a cause and sold tickets to family and friends to raise funds. Then we just contacted Anawim, planned our logistics and we were all set.
So on the 18th day of February, we set off for Anawim. Once we got there, we had a short orientation with the caretakers, and discovered that most of the residents were already suffering cases of Alzheimer's, some were suffering from dementia and we were also advised not to dig up their histories too much as they would be in denial of the fact that they have been abandoned by their families. It was a sad briefing, to say the least, and an eye opener to those of us there. So, we wanted to do our best to make the few hours we had with them count, to make them forget their troubles and at least be able to entertain them with songs, games and fun.
As soon as we got to the assembly area, our ever prepared emcee Boggs Buguina was game as ever! Without missing a beat, she caught the attention of our lolos and lolas in the audience. We started off with a prayer, and then played some games. They said they were tired so we indulged them by playing a few rounds of Pinoy Henyo ourselves. They were entertained at watching us try to guess the words and some were actually helping us out by reading the answers out loud. Afterwards, it was their turn and they joined in on the fun by playing Hep Hep Hooray. Then, we serenaded them with some videoke songs, only to be put to shame by one lola who sang several songs in a row in Spanish! And without the need of written lyrics, she knew those songs by heart. There was even an amazing performance where Boggs was outdanced and outmatched by one lolo who showed us how to boogie! Boggs was already out of breath by the time the song was over, and our lolo didn't even break a sweat. If this was a contest, we wouldn’t stand a chance of winning against them.
[caption id="attachment_405" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Our happy lolos and lolas"]
[/caption]
In the end, we all settled down by having lunch together. We couldn't keep them for long as they needed to rest, but we were happy to have been able to go out to Anawim, interact with our lolos and lolas and spread God's love to those who have no one else to take care of them. And in those moments, however brief, we were able to let them know they are loved.
Aside from being able to spend time with our lolos and lolas, and the hearty meal we served everyone at Anawim, we were also able to donate P7,036.55 worth of goods and P6,000 is cash. If you would like to donate to Anawim, you can check out this website for more details - http://anawim.com.ph/donations.php .
Photo Credit: Thanks to Ley Castillo!
Anawim is actually a Hebrew word for "The poor of the Lord" or "God's poor", an apt name for the center that is now the home of over 50 abandoned elderly plus a few orphans and physically and mentally handicapped persons. Founded by Bro. Bo Sanchez, this place is located in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal. In order to pull off this activity, we decided to have a raffle for a cause and sold tickets to family and friends to raise funds. Then we just contacted Anawim, planned our logistics and we were all set.
So on the 18th day of February, we set off for Anawim. Once we got there, we had a short orientation with the caretakers, and discovered that most of the residents were already suffering cases of Alzheimer's, some were suffering from dementia and we were also advised not to dig up their histories too much as they would be in denial of the fact that they have been abandoned by their families. It was a sad briefing, to say the least, and an eye opener to those of us there. So, we wanted to do our best to make the few hours we had with them count, to make them forget their troubles and at least be able to entertain them with songs, games and fun.
As soon as we got to the assembly area, our ever prepared emcee Boggs Buguina was game as ever! Without missing a beat, she caught the attention of our lolos and lolas in the audience. We started off with a prayer, and then played some games. They said they were tired so we indulged them by playing a few rounds of Pinoy Henyo ourselves. They were entertained at watching us try to guess the words and some were actually helping us out by reading the answers out loud. Afterwards, it was their turn and they joined in on the fun by playing Hep Hep Hooray. Then, we serenaded them with some videoke songs, only to be put to shame by one lola who sang several songs in a row in Spanish! And without the need of written lyrics, she knew those songs by heart. There was even an amazing performance where Boggs was outdanced and outmatched by one lolo who showed us how to boogie! Boggs was already out of breath by the time the song was over, and our lolo didn't even break a sweat. If this was a contest, we wouldn’t stand a chance of winning against them.
[caption id="attachment_405" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Our happy lolos and lolas"]
[/caption]In the end, we all settled down by having lunch together. We couldn't keep them for long as they needed to rest, but we were happy to have been able to go out to Anawim, interact with our lolos and lolas and spread God's love to those who have no one else to take care of them. And in those moments, however brief, we were able to let them know they are loved.
Aside from being able to spend time with our lolos and lolas, and the hearty meal we served everyone at Anawim, we were also able to donate P7,036.55 worth of goods and P6,000 is cash. If you would like to donate to Anawim, you can check out this website for more details - http://anawim.com.ph/donations.php .
Photo Credit: Thanks to Ley Castillo!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)